Back in 2010 I turned 50 and was diagnosed with breast cancer. During the 8 months of treatments, both chemo and radiation, I can’t remember 1 time I felt scared. I know that’s unpopular. I’ve heard other cancer friends, survivors, and those who didn’t survive all talk of their moment/moments of terror or agony or how ever they describe it. I just remember sitting in the surgeon’s office, with my 18 year old daughter, receiving the diagnosis and turning to her asking if SHE was OK. No, I’m not stoic. I’m not hard. I simply learned early – and it stayed with me – my God is sovereign, providential, loving, merciful, and full of grace AND – I AM HIS! So, I was FINE!
However, after my chat with LT this morning about what’s happening in the world, he asked a few questions that indicated he was thinking too much about what’s happening in Russia / Ukraine / oil and gas/ and here. So I sat him down and we had our lesson on God’s character, faithfulness and love. It is most rewarding to see God’s common grace and covenant blessing through LT. It went something like this:
During my many hour-long trips back and forth to treatments I had one of those awakenings that could only be from God. I love flowers. Yes – established fact. But I noticed orange daylilies growing wild in ditches along the highways and backroads and roadsides. At some point Matthew 6:28-30 jumped into my head: “28And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth,29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!“ I almost came out of my skin. It was as if God – yes, THE God of the Universe… that’s how huge it felt – tapped me on my shoulder and said I’ve got something MUCH bigger than you going on here so just chill! And I did! I kind of laughed through the whole 8 months. I. Was. Fine!Fast forward to today, I am considered cured of my cancer after very close to 12 years and ever vigilant.
Nana: who formed you in your mother?
LT: God
Nana: Who chose your parents?
LT: God
Nana: who loves you even more than mama and daddy and ALL your grands?
LT: God
Nana: who feeds the birds?
LT: God
Nana: in whose image are you made?
LT: God
Nana: are birds made in God’s image?
LT: no
Nana: wouldn’t God take care of you at LEAST as good as a bird? (we watch lots of birds)
LT: yes
Nana: yes! He WILL! He promised! Can God break a promise?
LT: NO!
Freedom Matters 